Morning vs night skincare routine: what changes

Side by side: morning and night

The order of steps does not change between morning and night. Thin textures still go first and rich textures last. What changes is which steps you include and the very last layer.

Build a morning or night order →

What makes a morning routine different

Morning routines tend to be lighter so makeup and sunscreen sit well on top. Many people choose a lighter cream in the morning and save a rich one for night. The key difference is sunscreen, which goes on as the final layer. If you use a day cream with SPF, it usually takes the moisturizer slot and is the last step.

Shiseido tells you to apply Future Solution LX Total Protective Cream SPF 30 as the last step in the morning. Lancome sells Absolue Premium Bx Day Cream SPF 15 in a 2.5 fl oz jar. Both are listed in our luxury day cream with SPF guide. For how sunscreen fits with other luxury steps, see sunscreen in a luxury routine.

Note.Follow the amount and reapplication directions on any sunscreen label. A day cream with SPF still needs to be applied in the amount the label gives.

What makes a night routine different

At night you remove the day: makeup, sunscreen and whatever the skin collected. Many people double cleanse, using an oil or balm first and a regular cleanser second. After that, the same thin-to-thick order applies, and the last layer can be a richer cream, a face oil or a sleeping mask.

Some creams are designed for night use. Shiseido describes Future Solution LX Total Regenerating Cream as a night moisturizer and tells you to apply it as the last step in the night routine. La Prairie sells Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask as a leave-on overnight mask. Our luxury night cream guide compares night textures, and day cream vs night cream covers the label difference in more detail.

Products that work for both

Many luxury creams and serums are labeled for morning and evening. Augustinus Bader tells you to smooth The Cream and The Rich Cream over face, neck and decollete morning and evening. Shiseido says to use Legendary Enmei in the morning and evening after softening. SK-II tells you to apply Facial Treatment Essence twice daily after cleansing and toning.

If a product does not say day or night, it is usually fine in both routines. The practical question is texture. A rich cream may feel heavy under makeup in the morning, and a light gel may feel thin at night in dry winter air. Our cream textures explained page describes the common textures.

Watch the labels for timing notes

Some products carry timing notes on the carton. Dr. Barbara Sturm tells you to apply its Eye Cream in the morning. Products with exfoliating acids, such as Lancome Absolue The Serum, which Lancome says contains a gentle exfoliating acid complex, are often paired with daily sunscreen. The carton and the brand's directions are the rule for each product.

Before you move a product into a new routine, or add a new one, do a patch test. Apply a little to a small area for a few days and watch for redness or itching. Our patch test guide explains the steps. If anything stings or burns, stop and ask a dermatologist.

A simple way to set up both routines

Keeping the same core order morning and night makes the routine easy to remember. Only the first cleanse and the last layer change. If you are building a routine from scratch, the skincare routine order guide explains each step.

1. 1

   List every product you own and sort them by texture, thinnest to thickest.

2. 2

   Mark any product the label says is for day only, night only or both.

3. 3

   Put sunscreen or an SPF day cream last in the morning list.

4. 4

   Put a night cream, oil or sleeping mask last in the night list.

5. 5

   Keep everything else in the same order in both lists.

6. 6

   Use the routine order builder to print both orders.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need different serums for morning and night? Not necessarily. Many serums are labeled for morning and evening. Use separate ones only if you prefer different textures or a label says day or night.

Can I use a night cream in the morning? You can if the label does not say otherwise, but a rich night texture may feel heavy under makeup, and it does not replace sunscreen.

Is a morning cleanse necessary? Many people use a gentle cleanser or just water in the morning. Night cleansing is more important because it removes makeup and sunscreen.

Where does eye cream go in each routine? In both routines it usually goes after serum and before moisturizer. See how to apply eye cream.